Washington, D.C., April 5, 2023 – According to media reports, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a $144.5 million settlement with the victims and families affected by the 2017 shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Last year, Brady led a coalition effort urging DOJ to drop its appeal of a federal court ruling that showed the government was partially responsible for the shooting as it failed to report the gunman’s history of violence into the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) database used by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
Brady President Kris Brown said:
“This is long overdue justice and recognition of government failure that gun violence victims and their families have waited years for.
“No amount of money can undo the pain and suffering caused by this tragedy, but Brady is grateful that the government is taking responsibility for failing to uphold its obligations within the Brady Background Check system. Put simply, a background check could have stopped the Sutherland Springs gunman.
“Background checks are one of the most effective tools we have to stop prohibited purchasers from buying guns, and continuing this litigation would further undermine the integrity of our nation’s life-saving gun safety laws. Brady applauds the DOJ for finally putting an end to this long legal battle and allowing victims and families to move on with their lives.”
Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.
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